The people of Makonde village and their traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura, breathed a sigh of relief after the Thohoyandou High Court, sitting in Waterval, had ruled in their favour, ending what they described as "traditional slavery."
The court issued an order prohibiting the alleged regent, Nyadzeni Peter Ravhura, and the senior traditional leader in the area, Thovhele Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase, from processing or approving any applications related to land allocation, sand mining, or any other matters concerning Makonde village, unless signed by Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura.
On Sunday, the chairperson of the Makonde Royal Family, Mr Fhatuwani Ravhura, addressed more than 3,000 villagers, making it clear that the ruling was a direct order from the court, not a personal decision.
Judge MV Semenya's ruling, delivered on 18 June, prohibits Nyadzeni Peter Ravhura from acting as headman or regent of Makonde village. The court further ordered him to surrender all official documents and stamps to the legally recognised traditional leader. Should he fail to comply, the sheriff has been instructed to confiscate these items.
The leadership dispute dates back to October 2014, when Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura was installed as traditional leader by Thovhele Tshivhase. As he was still a minor, the Makonde royal family appointed Mr Edward Ravhura as regent. However, a rival faction, opposing this decision, appointed its own regent, sparking division and unrest, which peaked in February 2023 when several businesses were set alight.
Following the escalating tensions, the Limpopo Provincial Government issued a headmanship certificate to Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura, published in the Government Gazette on 28 May 2024, with no objections lodged.
In January this year, Makonde residents, joined by 18 other villages under the Tshivhase dynasty, marched to Mukumbani Royal Palace to protest the alleged misuse of village resources.
In response to last week's court ruling, Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase confirmed that an appeal had already been lodged. Speaking to Limpopo Mirror, Tshivhase raised concerns about the manner in which the headmanship certificate was issued to Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura.
"We are not necessarily opposed to him leading Makonde, but the process must be followed properly," he explained. "The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), along with the Tshivhase Traditional Council and the Makonde royal family, must conduct a full genealogy process to confirm the rightful heir."
Tshivhase accused CoGHSTA officials of bypassing this crucial step.
"There are corrupt officials within CoGHSTA who issued the certificate without following procedure or consulting the Tshivhase Traditional Council," he said. "This is not just about Makonde — if traditional leadership processes are undermined, it threatens stability across the region."
He warned that, regardless of the court ruling, the legitimacy of the headmanship would be scrutinised from the beginning to ensure compliance with both legal and cultural protocols.
Meanwhile, Makonde residents plan to continue their campaign to reclaim control over local resources. A memorandum of grievances is expected to be handed in at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 11 July, as part of a united front by Makonde and 18 other villages under the Tshivhase dynasty.